George's Journal: a Collection of Articles Is it Safe to Travel Today? Yes, of course it is. This may sound like a simple and flippant answer to a very serious question today but…YES it is. Certainly September 11th caused concern for all of us who travel and for those who have been thinking about it. Frankly, I think it is safer to travel today than it has ever been. Obviously the destination you are headed to must enter into the discussion but that should always be the case anyway. Heather and I have just returned from a trip to Toronto to celebrate a 90th Birthday and I was impressed with the security procedures at the airports going to our flight and after collecting our luggage. Mind you, both airports handled things differently. In Vancouver, I had no trouble carrying my computer with me on to the flight but in Toronto I was not allowed to carry the locking cable for the computer onto the plane. Only in Toronto did I also have to prove that it would turn on and that both of my camera lenses worked. Also in Toronto, they checked all luggage to ensure we had picked up our own bags while Vancouver did not. Obviously, Toronto is at a higher level of security than Vancouver is. But aside from all this, which I certainly do not object to, everything was normal. Since travel has dropped off by up to 50% over the past month there are some great bargains to be had. Many travel suppliers from hotels to airlines have dropped prices just to get people moving. In the airline case, since prices were already at or below profit levels, I am very concerned about them dropping any more just to provide cash flow. I'm uncomfortable with airlines not making a profit, as they must repair and maintain their aircraft. To me it makes simple sense that they need to make a profit. Again I caution people against booking air travel and hotel rooms over the internet unless the booking is with a B.C. registered travel agent. Your money is protected in this province only if you book with a B.C. agency. Booking out of province or country puts your money at risk. Since so many airlines and hotels are losing money today, it is important to be sure that, if the airline or resort goes bankrupt, you will get your money back. If you are concerned about the advisability of travelling to a specific
country, I strongly suggest you rely on a registered travel agency for
this information. Travel alert information can be obtained on the internet
from the Canadian government at http://voyage.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/destinations/menu_e.html
and from the US government at http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.
But don't rely just on these sources. Good travel agents are generally
more up-to-date on 'real' information than most web sites.
George Bell, |
Bell Travel Services- Providing Custom Travel Services for
24 Years.
Toll-free: 1-800-665-8488 Vancouver: (604) 535-2587 Fax: 604-538-6646 info@belltours.com
12894 - 16th Avenue, White Rock, BC, CANADA V4A 1N7